SK Hynix Secures Stability of 1a EUV Process Technology
About 25% increase in productivity compared to previous generation products
LPDDR4 to be applied to DDR5 process next year


SK Hynix announced on the 12th that it started mass production of 8Gbit (gigabit) LPDDR4 mobile DRAM using the 10nm-class 1a fine process early this month. 1a is the 4th generation 10nm-class technology following 1x (1st generation), 1y (2nd generation), and 1z (3rd generation), and the new product will be supplied from the second half of the year.

1a LPDDR4 mobile DRAM is the first SK Hynix DRAM to be mass-produced using the EUV process. Hynix has previously introduced EUV to some of its 1y product production processes and confirmed its stability.

As the process becomes more refined, semiconductor companies are successively introducing EUV equipment for the photo process that draws circuit patterns on wafers. The industry sees the level of EUV utilization as a factor that determines technological leadership. As SK Hynix has secured the stability of EUV process technology, it plans to produce all 1a DRAM products using EUV in the future.

In addition, the productivity of new products has increased, which has also improved cost competitiveness. 1a DRAM can be obtained from one wafer by about 25% more than 1z products. SK Hynix expects that 1a DRAM will play a major role as global demand for DRAM increases this year.

The new product has achieved the highest speed (4266Mbps) of the LPDDR4 mobile DRAM standard, and has also reduced power consumption by approximately 20% compared to the existing product. Following this LPDDR4 DRAM, SK Hynix plans to apply 1a technology to the DDR5 DRAM released in October of last year starting early next year.

SK Hynix 1a DRAM TF Vice President Cho Young-man said, “1a DRAM is a product that can be expected to have high profitability due to improved productivity and cost competitiveness,” and “By applying EUV to mass production in earnest, we will solidify our position as a leading company in cutting-edge technology.”